Wolfson Backtracks On Edwards/Iowa Claim

This afternoon, former Hillary Clinton flack Howard Wolfson, confronted by a Fox News colleague with actual Iowa polling that suggested Clinton wasn't the de facto second choice of John Edwards voters, backed away from his claim that an early disclosure of Edwards' affair cost Clinton the nomination. "There are a thousand different ways that you can play the what if game, but I do believe that the result would have been different had this become public year ago," he told Trace Gallagher.

Naturally, Wolfson's protestations against "playing the what if game" confuse me, since the most avid player of the "what if" game has been, uhm...Howard Wolfson:

"I believe we would have won Iowa, and Clinton today would therefore have been the nominee," former Clinton Communications Director Howard Wolfson told ABCNews.com.

With that earlier contention recanted, there's little left to his statement other than his brave contention that if things had gone differently, then there would be differences. Indeed! Imagine what might have been if Hillary Clinton had had another communications director!

Actually, there was a bit more to Wolfson's statement: "You know, if Senator Clinton hadn't gotten teary-eyed in New Hampshire, I think Senator Obama would have won New Hampshire and he would have been the nominee in January." Wow! Looks like someone's going to get a stern talking to from Geraldine Ferraro!

[WATCH.]

GALLAGHER: This came from Howard Wolfson of the Clinton campaign. He said that if John Edwards had come clean about his affair a year ago, that Hillary may very well be the Democratic nominee now. I want to bring in Howard Wolfson right now, and before I ask you this question, I want to show a quick poll. This is from the Washington Post entrance poll and it says that 43% of those who voted for John Edwards, their second choice was Barack Obama. Add that to the fact that after John Edwards dropped out of the race, your candidate, Hillary Clinton lost eleven contests. Now, let me ask you the question again: Do you still stand by what you said yesterday concerning concerning Barack Obama -- or, rather, concerning John Edwards' affair?

WOLFSON: Well, my gut tells me that had Senator Edwards dropped out of the race or had this become public prior to Iowa, that we would have done better in Iowa. The exit polling tells something different. I think the Obama campaign would argue differently. But at the end of the day, you can play the what if game endlessly. And you can play it both ways. You know, if Senator Clinton hadn't gotten teary-eyed in New Hampshire, I think Senator Obama would have won New Hampshire and he would have been the nominee in January. So, there are a thousand different ways that you can play the what if game, but I do believe that the result would have been different had this become public year ago.

Comments

[4wehttam]

"..........if Senator Clinton hadn't gotten teary-eyed in New Hampshire, I think Senator Obama would have won New Hampshire and he would have been the nominee in January."

HELLLLLLOOOOOO???? This is what WE were saying the whole darn primary, NOW he freaking admits it. So puma, is Wolfson now a sexist? Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm?????

[lpeggy]

What a sore loser

[londonrainbow]

Thats what we've been saying all day on the other thread.

Majority of Edwards supporters backed O when Edwards dropped out, including campaign staff.

Wolf.......helloooo, Wolf I am talking to u. No matter how u spin it, Hillary lost. Wolf, wolf,.........I am talking to u.

[ohiodem250]

IF this country was not overrun with Puritans THEN no one would care about Sen. Edwards's dalliances.

[mnash]

Unbelievable. Anything to bring attention to Hillary. Get her base all fired up, blame everybody but Wolfson and his mistakes. She might have been vp is people like him knew enough not to keep stirring the pot.

[PKSSK]

I cannot believe this was a FOX interview, amazing!!!!!

[Topfeeder]

"His gut tells him." Hard to overlook that. It is impressive.

[srtjsrtj]

Campbell is all about the Ratings true or false no intregrity for the world of journalism. Media is so hungry for a story they Robb the Voters of getting factual information without opinions that the Voters can use in addition to other information to make an "informed decision. "

Media today is all about the money.. Thank goodness for the internet, radio, newspapers, magazines because the over whelming percentage of the voters don't depend on the Media/TV to obtain factual information.

It's a sad day for American TV and has been for a long time. Tim Russet was the las of the "Fair and Balanced" and it's unfortunate that not one other analyst in the Media caught on or learned anything from Tim.

Tim is truly missed! How many years is it going to take for Media to get another Tim?

[NoSandwiches]

so...instead of Edwards stealing the nomination from Clinton, it's Edwards' fault that Obama didn't get the nomination sewn up in January? So now we can blame the PUMAs on Edwards instead of Clinton. How about placing the blame on a thery that Clinton was invevitable.

Clinton bet everything on Super Tuesday. That's when she lost.

Her campaign then played out like W in Iraq, including not having an exit strategy.

[jsinclair]

Good job....Fox????

Wolfson should have apologized, actually.

Meanwhile, Campbell Brown is basing her CNN show today on the "intriguing possibility" that Hillary could have won this way.

"CNN. Now officially the WORST political team on television."

[CharlesJ]

Everyone needs to get off this Hillary thingy. The fact is she lost. The facts are she (her campaign) was completely flawed from the very beginning. Remember Hillary's campaign was set up by Bill Clinton, and managed by Bill Clintons staff. Hmmm and she lost, does that have a what if behind it. What if Bill had not set her campaign up, would she have won? What if Bill had not cheated on her, would she have even considered running for President? What if it didnt rain for a year in the US? What if.. what if..! Facts people, stick to the facts. Facts are she lost, so get over it already. I am tired of hearing about Hillary, Wolfson, Bill, her campaign staff, and her supporters, this is "NOT" about them, this is all about putting a democrat in the White house? This is about electing Senator Obama to the Presidency of the United States, a democrat who by the way WON the Primany race to become the democratic Nominee for the president of the U.S. Get on board everyone, the train is leaving the station real soon. You can sit there crying about all those "WHAT IF'S" or you can become that part of American that is making history by claiming we have had enough of politics as usual and "WE THE PEOPLE" are Demanding Serious Change in our government.